How to Get Your Kids to School on Time

Whether you’re notoriously late, or on time every day, these tips are great to implement into your morning routine to help you get your kids to school on time!

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Last week was the first week of school here in Minnesota, and this year I’ve got a first-grader and a preschooler! My kids are getting way too big.

Last year I drove my son to school every morning, and we were only late a handful of times. We figured out a good routine and knew what we needed to do to leave on time so he wouldn’t be late.

This year, our son is riding the bus, so things are going to be a little bit different. He has to leave thirty minutes earlier to catch the bus, so we really have to be on top of things in the morning.

Regardless of if your child rides the bus or if you drive them, there are several things you can do to make sure that you get your kids to school on time. Now I know this is my second year having an elementary school student, but I wanted to pass on what I’ve learned about getting my son to school on time!

Here are six things you can do to get your kids to school on time:

1. Put their backpack in car or by the front door the night before.

If you’re always scrambling to make sure your kids have everything before they leave, this is an easy way to make sure they will! Make sure all folders, papers, homework, permission slips, and anything else they need to bring to school is packed and ready to go! That way they won’t forget anything and have to double-back or search for it before you leave!

2. Let kids set out their outfits the night before.

This is especially handy if your child enjoys picking out their own clothes or takes a long time to decide. My first-grader loves picking his own outfit, but it usually takes him a while and he’s picky about what he wears, so we do it the night before and set it out so he can put it on when he gets up in the morning! It definitely saves us time to set out his outfit the night before!

3. Wake up before your kids get up.

I know this isn’t for everyone (me included!) but it really does help. You can do anything you need to in the morning to wake up (coffee, wash your face, read, etc.) before the kids are up. That way, when they wake up, you can just focus on them instead of also be trying to get yourself ready! I don’t do this every morning but the days I do, it does make a difference and we tend to be ready sooner.

4. Set an alarm for your kids.

If you have a late sleeper (unlike my kids, who are up at 6:30 am every day), setting an alarm is a great way to make sure they get up with plenty of time to get ready for school. You can use a basic alarm clock or an ok-to-wake clock like this one. And if they take a while to wake up, set an alarm with a snooze function so they can take their time! Just make sure they don’t hit snooze too many times!

5. Keep your morning routines simple.

I am definitely one for simple morning routines. If you pack too much in or make it too complicated, you’re almost always going to run out of time or start your day off on the wrong foot. My kids eat breakfast, get dressed, make their beds, and brush their teeth. Then if they have extra time they play or read or whatever. It’s also important to keep your own morning routine simple! You don’t need to get 100% ready for the day before your child goes to school!

6. Pack their lunch the night before.

This is another easy way to save time in the morning! Just set aside a few minutes in the evening to put your child’s lunch together and pop their lunchbox in the fridge. All they have to do in the morning is grab it and go!

7. Set alarms five minutes before and when you need to leave.

This one is especially helpful if you lose track of time easily! Instead of just setting an alarm for when you need to leave (whether that’s getting your child in the car or to the bus stop), set another alarm to go off five minutes before you need to leave. It’s an easy way to make sure you can get everything together and out the door before it’s too late!

8. Have your kids shower at night.

I am ALL ABOUT this one. My son likes to take long hot showers, so we make him shower at night. Otherwise he’d probably never get to school on time! And there are few luxuries quite like getting into bed nice and clean at the end of the day!

Getting to school on time can be as simple or as hard as you make it, but it’s definitely a priority in our house! Whether or not you struggle with getting your kids on the bus or in the car on time, hopefully you can use one or two (or all!) of these tips to make your mornings go a little smoother! They have certainly helped us start the day off right! Happy new school year, mamas!